*Check back in the spring for 2024 Summer Camp!*
GREAT BASIN NATURALISTS
Outdoor Learning Close to Home
Great Basin Naturalists at Galena Camps provide quality education experiences. We emphasize environmental science and physical activity, as well as foster creativity, promote STEAM education, and instill environmental stewardship. Our staff are trained, outdoor educators who are committed to providing safe and fun learning experiences for your camper! Load up your backpack, lace up your sneakers, and let’s have a forest adventure!
Located in the beautiful Galena Creek Regional Park, nestled between Reno and Lake Tahoe, our day and residential camps open a portal to the wilder world. For ages 8-13, kids will discover the natural wonders of our local forests, creeks, lakes and ponds.
Bringing out the explorer in every child.
Great Basin Naturalists at Galena Exploration Camps are made possible through partnerships between Washoe County, the USDA Forest Service, and the Great Basin Institute .
Located in the beautiful Galena Creek Regional Park, nestled between Reno and Lake Tahoe, our day and residential camps open a portal to the wilder world. For ages 8-13, kids will discover the natural wonders of our local forests, creeks, lakes and ponds.
Bringing out the explorer in every child.
Great Basin Naturalists at Galena Exploration Camps are made possible through partnerships between Washoe County, the USDA Forest Service, and the Great Basin Institute .
SPRING & S U M M E R E X P L O R A T I O N C A M P S
Day Camps
Based out of the Galena Creek Visitor Center, day camp offers a full day of outdoor activities including hiking, interactive lessons, expert presentations from professionals, games, crafts, and more! Available for ages 8-14.
Residential Camps
Located in the Galena Creek Regional Park, the WeChMe Lodge offers your camper the experience of true mountain living for a week. This secluded retreat has a full kitchen and dining area, showers, outdoor sports area, amphitheater, BBQ area, and two floors of rooms, accommodating eight campers per room. We provide professionally cooked food, weekly trips to the Lake Tahoe area, and fun evening activities like campfires, trivia, and more! Camp staff are trained to supervise your kiddos 24/7. Available for ages 8-14.
Counselor-in-Training Internships
The Counselor in Training Program (CIT) is a summer option available for 15-17 year-olds on a selected and limited basis. There is space available for 2 CITs each week during summer camp. CITs live at home during Day camp weeks and stay for the full week during Residential camp weeks. There is no camp charge for accepted CITs. CITS responsibilities are to assist camp staff with program implementation and facilitation, and learn the what working at a summer camp looks like.
Culinary Internships
Great Basin Naturalists at Galena Residential Camps will offer outdoor, science camps for kids ages 8-12 for four weeks in the summer of 2020. One week of teen camp will also be held during this time. These experiences are supported by health meals that are locally-sourced where possible and deliciously crafted with the help of a professional chef. Culinary Interns (ages 13-17) gain valuable experience in all kitchen stations, take a leadership role in presenting meals, assist with maintaining a clean kitchen, prepare a special dessert, and work with our incredible, professional chef. Culinary Interns will gain valuable, real world work experience.
Based out of the Galena Creek Visitor Center, day camp offers a full day of outdoor activities including hiking, interactive lessons, expert presentations from professionals, games, crafts, and more! Available for ages 8-14.
Residential Camps
Located in the Galena Creek Regional Park, the WeChMe Lodge offers your camper the experience of true mountain living for a week. This secluded retreat has a full kitchen and dining area, showers, outdoor sports area, amphitheater, BBQ area, and two floors of rooms, accommodating eight campers per room. We provide professionally cooked food, weekly trips to the Lake Tahoe area, and fun evening activities like campfires, trivia, and more! Camp staff are trained to supervise your kiddos 24/7. Available for ages 8-14.
Counselor-in-Training Internships
The Counselor in Training Program (CIT) is a summer option available for 15-17 year-olds on a selected and limited basis. There is space available for 2 CITs each week during summer camp. CITs live at home during Day camp weeks and stay for the full week during Residential camp weeks. There is no camp charge for accepted CITs. CITS responsibilities are to assist camp staff with program implementation and facilitation, and learn the what working at a summer camp looks like.
Culinary Internships
Great Basin Naturalists at Galena Residential Camps will offer outdoor, science camps for kids ages 8-12 for four weeks in the summer of 2020. One week of teen camp will also be held during this time. These experiences are supported by health meals that are locally-sourced where possible and deliciously crafted with the help of a professional chef. Culinary Interns (ages 13-17) gain valuable experience in all kitchen stations, take a leadership role in presenting meals, assist with maintaining a clean kitchen, prepare a special dessert, and work with our incredible, professional chef. Culinary Interns will gain valuable, real world work experience.
SPRING 2023 CAMP SESSIONS TBA
SUMMER 2024 CAMP SESSIONS TBA
Scholarships are Available for all Camp Programs!
We want all kids to be able to attend our camps programs as we believe money should not be a barrier for environmental education! If your camper is interested in attending a program, but the cost of camp is beyond what you can pay, please fill out a scholarship application and email it to visitorcenter@thegreatbasininstitute.org.
Funds for camp scholarships are generously provided by the Nell J. Redfield Foundation.
Funds for camp scholarships are generously provided by the Nell J. Redfield Foundation.
CAMP REGISTRATION
COVID-19 CAMP POLICIES
Keeping your child, family, and community safe is our number one priority. In order to do so, we have created a safe way to host camps these years. Summer camp is an entirely outdoor program, but still carries the the potential of coming across a close contact/positive case. When this happens, masks will be worn by staff and campers during that time. (The closing of camp will be dependent on staff and parents will be notified in a timely manner).
To ensure everyone's safety, please follow these policies:
- If you or your child is experiencing any of the following symptoms (coughing, congestion/runny nose, fever, sore throat, vomiting/diarrhea) please refrain from coming to camp that day.
- If your child has been a close contact from a different case please notify staff (we recommend getting tested)
Keeping your child, family, and community safe is our number one priority. In order to do so, we have created a safe way to host camps these years. Summer camp is an entirely outdoor program, but still carries the the potential of coming across a close contact/positive case. When this happens, masks will be worn by staff and campers during that time. (The closing of camp will be dependent on staff and parents will be notified in a timely manner).
To ensure everyone's safety, please follow these policies:
- If you or your child is experiencing any of the following symptoms (coughing, congestion/runny nose, fever, sore throat, vomiting/diarrhea) please refrain from coming to camp that day.
- If your child has been a close contact from a different case please notify staff (we recommend getting tested)
Fall Camp 2017 |
Summer Camp 2018 |
Summer Camp 2017 |
Summer Camp 2016 |
